Pro-Life Leaders Critique UK Abortion Bill
International pro-life organizations are speaking out against a proposed bill in the UK that would protect women from criminal charges related to abortions performed up to the moment of birth.
In a conversation with Fox News Digital, Sean Carney, the CEO of 40 Days for Life, expressed concern that British lawmakers are emulating the Democratic Party’s push in the US to expand abortion rights. He described this move as “absolutely absurd.”
“They’re not putting in any significant lobbying effort for this,” Carney remarked. “Generally, Europe tends to be more conservative on abortion matters compared to the US. While most European nations limit abortions to about 12 weeks, the UK allows them up to 24 weeks, and now, they want to extend this to the entire 40 weeks. This feels entirely out of left field.”
Carney is worried that if this bill is approved, it could set a “disturbing precedent” across Europe.
The Crime and Policing Bill includes a section that would remove criminal penalties for women who terminate their pregnancies at any time in England and Wales. This clause is presently in its final stages within the House of Lords and could be voted on very soon—potentially as early as Wednesday. If passed, the bill will return to the House of Commons for further amendments before receiving Royal Assent.
With this legislation, women would not face investigation, arrest, or prosecution for ending their pregnancies, even though the current legal limit in England and Wales is 24 weeks. However, medical professionals facilitating abortions beyond this period without medical justification could still face prosecution.
As lawmakers deliberate on this section, various amendments have emerged, including proposals to completely remove it, exclude late-term abortions, or require in-person medical consultations to curb “pill-by-post” services.
Carney asserts that adopting the latter two amendments would still imply a “desire for murder.”
“It’s mind-boggling,” Carney said. “They claim to be trying to create a legal compromise, but this isn’t about that. They want to pass a law that allows abortions right before birth, which isn’t even medically necessary. The baby is viable—you can’t justify that.”
“People are not looking to celebrate abortion,” he continued, stating that the notion of being able to perform abortions up to 40 weeks gives rise to a troubling social acceptance of it. “Most folks aren’t ‘monsters’ seeking such late-term abortions, yet this lack of legal accountability could normalize the procedure.”
Carney mentioned that this shift in legal standards could decrease the stigma surrounding abortions performed at earlier stages, like 8, 10, or 12 weeks. “What we’ve seen in the US is—it creates a mindset where some may think, ‘Well, at least I’m not as bad as those wanting a 40-week abortion, I only need one at 12 weeks,’” he explained.
Ultimately, he noted, this is about public perception: “It’s not that abortions at 40 weeks are rampant; it’s that having that option makes abortion seem less of a big deal for many.”
Carney concluded with a pointed critique: “The writers of this bill may present themselves as progressive, but to many, they seem entirely disconnected from reality.”
